What Is the Role of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission?
The licensing and regulation of radioisotopes in the United States are shared by the NRC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and many State governments. The EPA is also responsible for, among other things, setting air emission and drinking water standards for radionuclides. The States regulate radioactive substances that occur naturally or are produced by machines, such as linear accelerators or cyclotrons. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the manufacture and use of linear accelerators; the States regulate their operation. The NRC is the Federal agency given the task of protecting public health and safety and the environment with regard to the safe use of nuclear materials. Among its many responsibilities, the NRC regulates medical, academic, and industrial uses of nuclear materials generated by or from a nuclear reactor. Through a comprehensive inspection and enforcement program, the NRC ensures that these facilities operate in compliance with strict safet
Related Questions
- Why doesn’t the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) enforce its fire protection regulations, instead of giving out hundreds of exemptions?
- Is it true the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission will not license a PBMR without a containment structure?
- How much government funding does it cost to operate the nuclear regulatory commission?
